You own a Lambo. Do you let your 5-year-old son attempt a speed record

[herr_oberst]

Unreal

http://www.crash.net/wsbk/news/1053775/1/kenan-sofuoglus-five-year-old-son-breaks-world-speed-record-194mph

[masraum]

I didn't watch the video, but seems like a very bad idea. Even if a kid that age has/had the reflexes, strength, knowledge/experience, etc.... to be in the various situations that could result from that sort of activity, he doesn't have the size (leg length, arm length, etc...). He also doesn't have the other things, strength, knowledge, experience, etc....

[Dixie]

What the???? That's just not right. Some guy let's a 5yo drive his Lambo, but does anyone let me drive their McLaren? Nooooo, they do not.

And all because I once tagged a Jeep while parking. *Roll eyes*

[Tobra]

Seems like that would violate child endangerment laws

[Scott Douglas]

Have not looked at the video, but it sounds like a rich guy with more money than brains that really doesn't value his kids life and is looking for some bragging rights.

[Tervuren]

A modern lambo is a lot safer in how it handles than what those of us driving "common" cars might realize.
Maybe there is practice involved and this wasn't done out of the blue.

In racing 5 YO's are running restrictor plates around here.
Racing is a bit different as it is wheel to wheel and no 5YO I've observed has yet developed what it takes if things go squirrely in a Bandelaro at ~40MPH let alone knocking on 200MPH.

This is a testament to the car's ability to handle itself.

[astrochex]

Given how dad raced motorcycles, I’m not too surprised. Nuts though. Kinda scary too to think about all his practice at 5 and possibly even 4 yrs old.

[rwest]

So is this a testament to how good of a driver this 5 yo is or how nannified today’s super cars are that even a child can drive them at the limit?

[zakthor]

Ken you imagine if you heard someone boast that his kid broke the kids speed record? Dumazz an an arf. Its like a curse around their neck forever.

[sc_rufctr]

5 years old? Totally irresponsible!

Most annoyingly, stuff like this is about $clicks$.

[A930Rocket]

Stupid….

[id10t]

Not sure about a Lambo, but I know as a 5 year old I couldn't reach the pedals in the 356 or see over the dash when sitting in the pilots seat...

[unclebilly]

I think it’s awesome.

To those who think this is ‘stooped’, what age do you think top level athletes should start training?

15? 18? 21?

The reality is that most top level skiers, swimmers, racers, dirt bike racers, equestrian riders are already competing at 5 or 6. Their parents take calculated risks to make this happen. By 10 or 12 years old, it’s too late to catch up.

[unclebilly]

Also I have no idea if he or dad was running the throttle.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rwest

So is this a testament to how good of a driver this 5 yo is or how nannified today’s super cars are that even a child can drive them at the limit?

It's about the Nannies. I've got 3 grandsons, 8, 5, and 2. Neither of the two older boys should have been put into that situation at 5. At 5 you are lacking in many, many things.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

I think it’s awesome.

To those who think this is ‘stooped’, what age do you think top level athletes should start training?

15? 18? 21?

The reality is that most top level skiers, swimmers, racers, dirt bike racers, equestrian riders are already competing at 5 or 6. Their parents take calculated risks to make this happen. By 10 or 12 years old, it’s too late to catch up.

It's one thing to have a kid in some sort of kart at 5. It's something else entirely to have a kid in a 3000+ pound car going nearly 200 mph at 5.

[masraum]

I think this is the kid.

[RNajarian]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Have not looked at the video, but it sounds like a rich guy with more money than brains that really doesn't value his kids life and is looking for some bragging rights.

Irresponsible, period.

Was a custom seat fabricated for the smaller statue of the child?
Any accommodation for his inability to reach the pedals?
Is a fire suppression system installed? Does the child have the wherefore all to operate it in an emergency?

Yea kids ride dirt bikes but the difference between an European super car and a 50 cc dirt bike is night and day.

Regardless of how safe the car is or it can drive itself this is purely a selfish act on the part of the “parent.”

I wouldn’t watch the video for the sole reason a child’s life was in danger and the stunt should never have occurred.

. . . yes driving 194 MPH is dangerous, especially a 5 year old child doing it alone.

EDIT: Even with a custom seat to accommodate the child’s small stature, could he even see over the steering wheel?

[Tervuren]

My after sleeping thoughts were this,
If a kid that age can handle a bicycle on hills then driving a modern Lamborghini in a straight line given the same level of training and dedication isn't all that harder.

Having driven a Ferrari F8, I'd put 40MPH in a go kart on a track with barriers as more risky than straight lining this Lamborghini on a long stretch of nowhere.

Originally Posted by unclebilly

I think it’s awesome.

My one objection is putting it out there on the internet.
There's a lot of tragedy out there chasing child records.
Better to do this in quiet, and have their own moments.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Regardless what safety precautions were taken, I'm sure a child's body can't take high g loads in a crash anywhere near what an adult can

Also a child isn't mentally developed enough to have any understanding of the dangers involved to make an informed decision about the risks

Donuts around a car park and slow speed drifting hell yea but high speed driving no way!